
Hanover Airport
Hanover Airport (HAJ) is one of Germany's ten largest airports. As the capital of Lower Saxony, Hanover is an internationally significant trade fair location, and even a sitting US president has landed here. Technical innovations have also been advanced in Hanover—some even claim the first motorized flight took place here. Discover more interesting facts about Hanover Airport, the destinations served, and how to get to HAJ in this article.
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Overview of Hanover Airport
As one of Germany’s largest airports, Hanover Airport offers much more than national and international travel destinations. The airport has also been a pioneer in technical advancements. In 2024, the airport celebrated the 25th anniversary of its third air traffic control tower. Notably, this was the first tower in a state-of-the-art model series introduced by the German Air Navigation Service (DFS). This model has since been adopted at major airports in Düsseldorf, Munich, Berlin, and Frankfurt.

Visitors can learn more about the tower and the technical aspects of the airport through guided tours. Bike tours around the airport and flight simulators are also available. For plane-spotting enthusiasts, the observation deck is particularly recommended.
Hanover Airport is conveniently connected via the A352 highway. Parking is easily accessible, and the airport is reachable by S-Bahn from the central train station in approximately 20 minutes. The three terminal buildings are connected and easily accessible, so how early you should arrive depends mainly on your travel time. Generally, check-in and security procedures are quick, with sufficient counters and control stations to prevent long queues.
Popular Destinations
The most popular destinations from Hanover Airport are primarily located in the south. Antalya ranks first, Palma de Mallorca third, and Hurghada in Egypt also makes the top 10. Among European cities, London and Paris are frequently chosen destinations. The airport’s flight schedule includes seasonal adjustments to meet the demand for summer and winter vacations. For instance, flights to Stockholm are available in summer, while winter brings connections to the ski resort of Arvidsjaur.

History of Hanover Airport
The current Hanover Airport is not the city’s first airfield. The original facility was located in an area now used for commercial purposes, still referred to as the Old Airport. Runways for flying machines were established there as early as 1907 to support aviation pioneer Karl Jatho’s work. Allegedly, Jatho conducted the first motorized flight in the area in November 1903 with his “Jatho Kite,” predating the Wright brothers. However, aviation historians widely dispute this claim, as it only surfaced in the 1930s.
Construction of the current Hanover-Langenhagen Airport began in 1950. The growing significance of the Hanover Trade Fair made the city’s mainly military airfields inadequate. Additionally, a larger airport near West Berlin was desirable for political reasons. Had another blockade like the one in 1948–49 occurred, Berlin’s airports could have been quickly accessed from here.
Since then, Hanover Airport has undergone several expansions and modernizations. A particular highlight in recent history was the landing of US President Barack Obama during the opening of the Hanover Trade Fair in 2016. As a result, Air Force One has also touched down at Hanover Airport.

Attractions in and around Hanover
Contrary to its often unfair reputation, Hanover offers a variety of attractions. If you have time to spare in the city, these activities are especially recommended:
Hanover Zoo
With over a million visitors annually, Hanover Zoo is one of the city’s top attractions. It is far more than a local highlight and was even named the world’s best zoo for 2009/10.
Herrenhausen Gardens
This impressive Baroque garden is part of Herrenhausen Palace. It also includes a Sea Life aquarium and hosts numerous art festivals and an international fireworks competition annually.
Hanover Christmas Market
During the colder months, Hanover boasts a Christmas market that spans much of the city center. Highlights include a Finnish section, a historical area, and the Kröpke Christmas Pyramid—standing 18 meters tall, it is the largest of its kind in the world.
We wish you a pleasant flight to or from Hanover! If you plan to park at Hanover Airport, take advantage of our bonus program.